Robert G. Athearn Prize

The Western History Association announces the Athearn Book Prize given annually for a published book on the twentieth-century American West (the twenty-first century American West may also be considered). The award is $500 and is supported by the friends and students of Professor Athearn and administered by the Western History Association. Named after Robert G. Athearn (1914-1983), who served as the third President of the Western History Association from 1964-1965, this prize honors his contribution to the field of western history. Athearn was a prolific scholar at the University of Colorado at Boulder, known for his diverse scholarship on topics ranging from the Northern Plains and Rocky Mountains to railroad history and the African-American exodus to Kansas. The award recognizes outstanding scholarly work that continues his legacy of excellence in western historical scholarship. Publishers may submit more than one title each year, and all submissions must have a 2025 copyright date. While the formal process requires presses or journals to submit the work of their authors, the WHA strongly recommends that authors check with the award committee chair a week before the deadline to verify receipt of their work.